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14.06.2010
The 15th International Balloon Meet in Velikie Luki
From June, 5 till June, 13 in an ancient city Velikie Luki (Pscov region) was held the 15th International Balloon Meet. 36 pilots took part in the sport program of this key Russian ballooning event of the year and some more aeronauts flew in the framework of a fiesta. Among them there were repeated national champions and participants of the main European and world hot air balloon events.
This year 7 foreign pilots took part in the competitions in Velikie Luki. Among them - repeated participant of the International Balloon Meets, Lithuanian pilot Tadas Gegevicius, Gailis Gints from Latvia, Michael Phol from Germany, Denis Volodin from Ukraine and 3 Czech pilots – Michael Suchy, Miloslav Skorpik and Pavel Kostrhun.
Moreover, pilot from Saudi Arabia Captain Nasser Abdulaziz Al-Mansouri raised in the sky of Velikie Luki his hot air balloon carrying King Abdullah’s photo. The balloon, which is 50 meters long, 35 meters wide, and with a volume of 77,000 m3, carries three effigies of the king of Saudi Arabia, and three flags of this country. Earlier Captain Mansouri took part in the balloon festival in the Caucasian Mineral Waters region and this year decided to visit the largest Russian hot air balloon festival.
During the Meet were held four events:
-3rd Cup of Friendship that was established by the government of Pskov region. The winner was determined as the competitor with the highest aggregate score among all competitors by the end of the event.
-16th Championship of Russia that won the Russian competitor with the highest aggregate score among Russian pilots by the end of the event.
-6th Cup of Velikie Luki, that was established by the municipal authorities with the support of Russian Balloon Federation in 2005 to honour the contribution of Velikie Luki to the development of Russian ballooning. Its winner was determined as the competitor with the highest aggregate score by the end of the event – among competitors, that participated in Velikie Luki Balloon Meet more than once.
-4th Cup of Princess Olga that was obtained by the best female competitor.
Unfortunately, this year the weather conditions in Velikie Luki weren’t ideal. Because of that the flight during the opening ceremony that was held in the evening of June, 6 was cancelled. In total during the Meet the pilots held 5 sport flights and completed 15 different tasks. As a result pilot from Dolgoprudny (Moscow region) Andrey Denisenko became the overall winner of the competitions. He and his team won gold medals of the Russian championship, the international Cup of Friendship and the Cup of Velikie Luki. The three-time national champion Sergey Vinogradov (Velikie Luki) took the second place and thus became the vice-champion of the year 2010. The third place in the general classification won the pilot from Lithuania Tadas Gegevicius. «Bronze» among Russian pilots belongs to Alexander Butko from Moscow.
Ekaterina Larikova from Velikie Luki became the possessor of the golden Cup of princess Olga. One more representative of the Pskov area Galina Stegaalina obtained silver woman's Cup. The third place among pilotesses won the young pilotess from Kungur Marina Udot. In a few days Russian women national team will take part in the first European Women Hot Air Balloon Championship, that will be held in Lithuania.
The winner of the Cup of Arkadi Novoderezhkin – prominent Soviet and Russian aeronaut, who devoted his life to the Flights and to the Sky – is the winner of the first emulative day, national champion-2009 Anton Morev (Moscow).
Congratulations to the winners!
The total results of the competitions
1. Andrei Denisenko (dolgoprudny, Moscow region)
2. Sergey Vinogradov (Velikie Luki)
3. Tadas Gegevicius (Vilnius, Lithuania)
4. Alexander Butko (Moscow)
5. Sergey Bazhenov (Moscow)
6. Sergey Nikitin (Velikie Luki)
7. Michael Suchy (Brno, Czech Republic)
8. Pavel Kostrhun (Brno, Czech Republic)
9. Victor Iljinskij (Zhukovsky, Moscow region)
10. Andrey Kulkov (Tula)
Press-centre |
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24.02.2010
Dear Pilot,
This year the city of Velikie Luki will host the International Balloon Meet for the 15th time.
Russian hot-air ballooning has come a long way in recent years. And we are proud that the International Balloon Meet has grown into a key national ballooning event of the year for the majority of Russian pilots.
Event organizers will do their best to ensure that the sporting part of the event is up to international standards and provide equal opportunities for all competitors to show off their skills.
For competition leaders the event will be an excellent warm-up for the upcoming World Championship and the 1st FAI Women's European Hot Air Balloon Championship.
We wish you all lots of soft landings and we will be glad to welcome you in Velikie Luki.
VP organizing committee David Shifrin
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5th -13th June, 2010
15th Velikie Luki International Balloon Meet will comprise the following 4 competitions:
•3rd Cup of Friendship (international competition)
•16th Championship of Russia (national competition)
•6th Cup of Velikie Luki (international competition)
•4th Cup of Princess Olga (international competition)
Cup of Friendship Winner will be determined as the competitor with the highest aggregate score among all competitors by the end of the event.
Cup of Friendship international competition was established by the government of Pskov region.
Championship of Russia Winner will be determined as the Russian competitor with the highest aggregate score among Russian pilots by the end of the event.
Cup of Velikie Luki Winner will be determined as the competitor with the highest aggregate score by the end of the event – among competitors, that participated in Velikie Luki Balloon Meet more than once.
Velikie Luki Cup was established by the municipal authorities with the support of Russian Balloon Federation in 2005 to honour the contribution of Velikie Luki to the development of Russian ballooning.
Cup of Princess Olga Winner will be determined as the female pilot with the highest aggregate score among all female competitors by the end of the event.
Cup of Princess Olga was established for female pilots by Pskov region government in 2007. The mission of the event is to contribute to the development of ballooning in Russia as well as promote the historical heritage of Pskov region. The Cup is named after Princess Olga (Saint Olga), the great ruler of Kievan Rus (945-c.963). She was the first Rus ruler to convert to Christianity and is considered the first saint of the Russian Orthodox Church. The first mention of Pskov city in chronicles (903) is related to the years of Princess Olga’s government. She made a great contribution to Russia’s state life and culture.
CONTACT INFORMATION
You are welcome to contact the Organizing Committee for further information and questions at:
E-mail: d_sh2108@mail.ru
+7 926 114 28 28;
+7 495 408 60 94
Fax: +7 495 576 33 27;
Web: www.balloon-cup.ru
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23.06.2009
Commendations to the foreign pilots
In the 14th International Balloon Meet in Velikie Luki took part 6 foreign pilots from 4 countries: Yaroslav Tolstov form Kazakhstan, Tadas Gegevicius from Lithuania, Stamurs Kaspars and Gailis Gints from Latvia, Tatiana Beidik and Roman Savchuk from Ukraine. We thank them for the participation in the competitions, hope that they are satisfied with the flights and invite them to take part in the next competitions in the hospitable sky of Velikie Luki.
Photos by Igor Shelaputin
Organizing committee |
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23.06.2009
The 14th International Balloon Meet has come to an end
The 14th International Balloon Meet that took place in Velikie Luki (Pscov Region) from June, 6 till June, 14 has finished. In the competitions were taking part 36 hot air balloon teams. 3 more pilots were flying within the bounds of fiesta. The aeronauts not only from Russian regions, but also from Latvia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan and Ukraine have come to Velikie Luki.
During the 4 competition flights the competitors accomplished 14 different tasks. As a result pilot from Moscow Anton Morev became the overall winner of the competitions. He and his team won gold medals of the championship of Russia, the international Cup of Friendship and the Cup of Velikie Luki. The previous year's holder of the Russian Champion's title Sergey Latypov (Moscow) took the second place and thus became the vice-champion of the year 2009. The third place in the general classification won the pilot from Latvia Stamurs Kaspars. «Bronze» among Russian pilots belongs to Andrey Vertiprahov from Kungur (Perm region).
Galina Stegalina from Velikie Luki became the possessor of the golden Cup of princess Olga. One more representative of the Pskov area Ekaterina Larikova obtained silver woman's Cup. The third place among pilotesses won the champion of Ukraine Tatyana Bejdik.
The winner of the Cup of Arkadi Novoderezhkin – prominent Soviet and Russian aeronaut, who devoted his life to the Flights and to the Sky – is the winner of the first emulative day Sergey Latypov.
Congratulations to the winners!
The total results of the Cup of Friendship (top ten of the participants)
1.Morev Anton (Moscow)
2.Latypov Sergey (Moscow)
3.Kaspars Stamurs (Riga, Latvia)
4.Vertiprahov Andrey (Kungur, Perm region)
5.Savchuk Roman (Kiev, Ukraine)
6.Vinogradov Sergey (Velikie Luki, Pscov Region)
7.Kulkov Andrey (Tula)
8.GegeviciusTadas (Vilnius, Lithuania)
9.Chubarov Evgeni (Moscow)
10.Denisenko Andrey (Dolgoprudny, Moscow region)
Photos by Nikolay Ryabzev, Tatiana Koptyagina and Pavel Tarasenko
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9.06.2009
The hero of the day: Stamurs Kaspars
The pilot from Latvia Stamurs Kaspars is the leader of the competition flight of the 9th of June. In the morning the competition director Dave Morgan gave to the aeronauts 2 classical tasks with marker drops: Fly in and Hesitation Waltz. Most of the pilots successfully accomplished this “old-fashioned” tasks in spite of the fact that nowadays many of them are more accustomed to virtual tasks with gps-loggers. An absolutely outstanding result showed the champion of Latvia of the year 2006 Stamurs Kaspars. During this flight he got the maximum possible result in the task – 1000 points – twice.
Photos by Igor Shelaputin and Sergey Gusev.
Press-centre |
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9.06.2009
Preliminary results. Evening, 8th
According to the preliminary results, that have not been approved by the sport director of the competitions yet, pilots Sergey Latypov (Moscow), Andrei Vertiprachov (Kungur, Perm region) and Galina Stegalina (Velikie Luki) are leading after the count of the results of tasks ¹ 1-3, that were performed at the 8th of June, evening. Now pilots, that don't agree with their score, have some time to lodge an appeal. The final results will be published after the end of the period of the appeals' feedings.
Press-centre |
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9.06.2009
An interview with the sport director Dave Morgan (UK)
- Mr Morgan, it’s not your first visit to Russia. What impressed you most and what has changed in Velikie Luki and in the championship since that time?
- For the first time I visited Velikie Luki to direct the competitions in 2003. Then I came here in 2003, 2004 and 2004. But first time I came to Russia was in 1979. And the differences between the Russia of the 1975 and the modern Russia are enormous. The things that impressed me most when I first came here were beauty of the countryside, the abundance of open spaces, frankness and hospitality of the people. The beauty stays mostly the same and people are still as friendly. But many things have changed. When I came in Velikie Luki for the first time, traffic on the roads was rather chaotic. The traffic lights sometimes worked, sometimes didn't, and even if they did, nobody payed attention to them, but just did what they wanted to do. Nowadays the traffic lights mostly work, they are new and very bright, almost everybody stops at the streets and waits for the green light to cross the street. It's very good, because it's more safe for everybody. Other thing that has changed considerably are the shops: when I first came in Velikie Luki in 2003 as a foreigner who neither speaks nor understands Russian, I didn't even know which were shops and which were offices or just houses. It wasn't easy to find out what was sold in the shops. Now it is much more simple because they have big signs “Shop” and bright pictures of the products they sell. The city of Velikie Luki has made a big progress in the last 6 years in comparison with other places that I have seen in the world. Generally I think that things in your country are moving in the right direction.
- And also the level of hot air ballooning in Russia has changed...
- Absolutely yes. There is much progress in Velikie Luki in the number and the quality of the pilots. They have to have more and more skills to compete in the championship. The quality of it is also increasing. We should thank our volunteers for this. They are payed nothing and work because of the love of ballooning. In addition, the technologies are developing. When I first came here in 2003 we didn't use GPS loggers, but in the last 2 years we've used them and we'll use them again this year.
- Could you tell a few words about your first hot air balloon experience?
- My first hot air balloon experience was in 1982. I was interested in flying from a very small boy. I made small model planes, than bigger planes and then I tried to be involved in flying gliders and planes. They were good but they didn’t have passion for me. Then I saw a balloon flying and thought: “That’s a beautiful way to fly, I’ll try it!” It took me a while to find people in England who were flying. That time it was still quiet a rare thing to see balloons and to fly balloons. And the people I found were in the countryside and I went a long to help, lifting and carrying things but no particular idea, that I’ll be able to fly.
- What did you feel when you raised in the sky for the first time?
- That day the weather wasn’t very nice, it was grey and cloudy, but the pilot went for the small flight, just to test the weather and he invited me to fly. And I didn’t take a second opportunity and jumped straight in the basket. We took off within 5 or 10 seconds. And I understood that this was an experience that I was looking for. I was magic for me.
- And then you decided to get a pilot license?
- That's right. It took me 2 years to get my license. In the UK system the exam contains of 3 parts: written examination, general exam test with a examiner and then a solo flight with nobody to help you at all. I did my examination in England, but general flight test I did in Swiss Alps, flying over the mountains, beautiful flight, but very new experience, because most of my flying before was on flat grounds. Then I did my solo flight in Spain. So I gained my license in 1984 and so that 25 years ago now. In the late nineties I was asked to be involved in competitions at different levels. I’ve done every job that it possible to do in the competitions. I’ve been a competition pilot, observer, assistant, measurer and sport director. Since that time I've directed championships in many countries – Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Russia, England and some other. They keep asking me to come back and do it again, so here I am. I’m very pleased to come back to Velikie Luki, because it’s my second home now.
- How do you think, why not so many pilots from far countries have come to Velikie Luki?
- It's difficult to find an answer. The only thing that I can offer as an explanation, why there are not so many competitions from foreign countries is the distance. People in Russia get used traveling great distances and they think that it's a normal situation. But I know many people from other countries for whom the distance to get there is so unfamiliar for them. In addition, they don't know the environment, won't be able to understand the language and that's why will need to rely upon the translators. They are afraid that they can come all the way here and the weather will be bad, so they will spend lots of money for nothing. There are many other events much closer to their homes. There is one more problem. We still need visas to come to Russia. Even I have to go to the consulate, stand in a queue, pay 120 pounds, despite of the fact that my wife is from Russia and I have already been to your country for about 20 times.
- Every sport director has it's on style of directing. What the participants of the Balloon Meet can expect during the competitions?
- There are different styles of direction. Some people want to keep all the things very close, control everything, so they make mass ascension to make sure that all the balloons take off rightly. Some people like easy tasks, so that the pilots can get big scores, the others not. Some of sport directors embrace the new technology of GPS loggers and complicated electronic tasks. As for me I try to take a little bit from everything and bring it together. It's like making a cake, mixing many ingredients together. We will see what comes out this time.
- And in conclusion, what can you wish to the participants of the Meet?
- I wish that we have super weather, good winds, many flights and tasks, that will help pilots to show their best skills.. Only on this conditions we can get a return on our hard work, that does the organizing committee.
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8.06.2009
The 14th International Balloon Meet has started
At the 6th and the 7th of June the Meet started with some training flights, inauguration of an exhibition, dedicated to hot air balloons, press-conference and general briefing. In the evening of June, 6th 12 balloons started from the old stronghold in the center of Velikie Luki and had a beautiful flight above the city in the direction of the airport. 4 of the balloons flied up in the sky of Pscov region for the first time. This flight was dedicated to the Commemoration Day of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, who was born 210 years ago.
By the results of the registration, that were announced during the general briefing at the 7th of July, 36 teams from 5 countries (Russia, Kazachstan, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine) will take part in the competitions. It's a new record for all the Russian hot air balloon competitions. The previous one (34 teams, who are participating in the competitions) was also set up in Velikie Luki. In addition, 5 more pilots will fly as a fiesta this year. So the total number of the pilots is 41 and can be even more.
The first sport briefing in the morning of the June, 8th was canceled because of the rain. That's why some pilots, that had send a preliminary application but didn't come yet, got the last chance to pass the registration and struggle for the prizes of the 14th International Balloon Meet.
Let us remind you that the Balloon Meet is taking part in Velikie Luki from the 6th to the 14th of June in Velikie Luki (Pscov region). The winners and the laureates of the competitions will be awarded during the official ceremony at the 13 of June.
Photos by Nikolay Ryabzev and Igor Shelaputin
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20.05.2009
Information for the journalists
We invite journalists for the collaboration!
Dear colleagues!
International Balloon Meet in Velikie Luki is a spectacular, interesting, beautiful and socially important event. It will take place from June, 6 till June, 14. This year in its limits will be held the Championship of Russia – the main rating competition for all the Russian aeronauts. 44 pilots (among them 39 sportsmen – a record-breaking number) sent their applications for the participation. 33 pilots will struggle for the title of the Russian Champion (one more record). 20 Russian cities will be presented in the competitions (a record once again).
We invite all the mass-media for information cooperation. As always, it is possible to do it in different forms: remote collaboration (news, photos, assistance in writing of articles, radio-reports and so on) and with presence of your correspondents at the event.
The staff of the press-centre can be found here: http://balloon-cup.ru/2009/lica.php
As always, our professional journalists and photographers can provide your editions with the necessary information about the event if your representatives cann't arrive to Velikie Luki.
The information for accreditation is published among the documents of the Meeting-2009 on this page: http://balloon-cup.ru/2009/pilots.php
Pay attention to the changes of the accreditation rules! You must show your published materials about the previous events to get the accreditation.
Here You can look at the calendar of the Russian aeronautic events-2009 with links and contacts of the organizers: http://balloon-cup.ru/shamp.shtml
We are ready to answer all your questions and give any additional data.
Yours faithfully,
Janna Loseva,
The chief of the press-centre
Press-centre |
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19.05.2009
The official rules of the 14th International Balloon Meet in Velikie Luki are approved
The rules of the 14th International Balloon Meet in Velikie Luki have been approved by the sport direction of the competitions. They are based on new version of the international rules of hot air balloon competitions, held with loggers and observers. The rules were approved at last conference of the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA FAI).
The rules regulate every aspect of the competitions, for example, the official titles of the awards, the list of officials, the maximum size of balloon envelopes... Among other things, rules remind that for the definition of the flight result the earth is considered flat, that the pilot must recognise Sports code CIA FAI, and mustn't frighten animals, flying over them at a low altitude. In the rules are described 20 types of tasks both 3D with loggers and 2D with observers. The full text of the rules can be found here: http://balloon-cup.ru/2009/pilots.php
Let us remind that the 14th International Balloon Meet will take place in Pskov region from June, 6 till June, 14th. Competitive flights will be held from June, 8 till June, 12th. Splendid opening of the Meet with the most mass start of the balloons in Russia will take place on June, 7th in the centre of Velikie Luki. The winners of competitions, including 15th Champion of Russia, will be named at the Closing ceremony on June, 13th.
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21.04.2009
The registration period came to an end
The period of preliminary registration in the 14th International Balloon Meet in Velikie Luki is officially finished. But in spite of this, the quantity of the participants keeps growing. Up to this moment the organizing committee has received applications of 43 pilots from 5 countries and 20 cities. 38 of them will take part in the competitions and 5 teams will participate in fiesta flights. 4 pilotesses will compete for the Cup of Princess Olga. The majority of the teams are from Velikie Luki (10), Moscow (6), Ryazan (4). 2 pilots will represent Ukraine, 2 — Latvia, 1 — Lithuania and 1 — Kazakhstan. 15 hot air balloons will conquer the sky of Velikie Luki for the first time.
The final quantity of the participants will be announced during the press-conference at the 7th of July.
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20.04.2009
The participants of the Meet: Gailis Gints (Latvia)
One of the participants of the 14th International Balloon Meet will be latvian pilot Gailis Gints. He got his pilot licence in 2007 and in a year became the National Champion of Latvia. In addition, he took part in the World Hot Air Balloon Championship-2008 in Austria and some other competitions and fiestas. He is going to compete in the International Balloon Meet in Velikie Luki for the first time. But his wife Kristīne Vēvere partecipated in it as a chief observer in 1997 and by the words of the aeronauts splendidly managed her work.
In Velikie Luki Gailis Gints will pilot a balloon «Izzi air-kiss». It is third Racer type sport air-balloon in Latvia, manufactured by spanish company UltraMagic. Silver coloured IZZI air-kiss bravely accepted register number YL-013, which was declined before by other balloon owners due to superstition. IZZI Air-kiss is one of the smallest air-balloons in Latvia, its volume — 1850m3. Currently IZZI Air-kiss is actively participating in Latvian and international festivals.
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